Football: Notre Dame travels to Heinz Field Saturday as Pitt seeks revenge for last year’s triple-overtime loss

Pitt’s last game against Notre Dame ended in heartbreak, embodied by Kevin Harper’s missed field goal from 33 yards out — a field goal that would have given Pitt an upset victory over the then-No. 3 Fighting Irish if it had gone through the uprights.

One season later, the stakes are slightly different for No. 23 Notre Dame. The Irish will travel to Heinz Field this time and will be without quarterback Everett Golson, who was suspended for the season after he violated Notre Dame’s honor code by cheating on an exam.

“You think about everything you do in the past and use it, but I’m over that one,” head coach Paul Chryst said. “I don’t know what the players think. A lot of them didn’t play. This is this year, and we have to do a good job of making sure they understand that.”

Quarterback Tom Savage, for one, is looking forward to this game. Savage stood on the sidelines during last year’s contest as a result of transfer rules.

“It’s going to be fun,” Savage said. “This is just like Florida State and that game here. I’m pretty sure it’s sold out. It’s every quarterback’s dream.”

The loss last year dropped the Panthers under .500 after nine games, which could happen again if Pitt (4-4, 2-3 ACC) falters at Heinz Field against Notre Dame (7-2).

“Last year was a completely different year. Obviously, it was a close game,” Savage said. “They have a great team coming back and so do we.”

Savage leads a Pitt offense that hasn’t been as explosive as it was at the season’s onset, which was highlighted by a 58-point outburst against Duke. Since their matchup with Duke, the Panthers have scored no more than 35 points and averaged just more than 17 points per game.

Following the matchup against Georgia Tech, Pitt faces a Notre Dame defense allowing just 23 points per game.

“I think they’re just very disciplined, [and] they don’t make too many mistakes,” Savage said. “We’ve gotta find our shots and take advantage of them.”

In the eyes of offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph, the Fighting Irish build their defense around a talented defensive front.

“They have great size up front, [and] they have great athleticism,” Rudolph said. “They do a little bit more defensively, where they pressure you a little bit more. They show you a few different looks and even more than they did last year.”

All-American defensive tackles Louis Nix and Kona Schwenke and defensive end Sheldon Day all contribute to a formidable defensive line.

“Those guys up front make it happen,” Rudolph said. “They can sit in their base and play defense, those guys are good.”

Pitt’s own defense, which has performed well recently, will face a Fighting Irish offense that’s scored 45 and 38 points in its last two games, respectively.

“When you watch them on tape, they’re pretty good,” House said. “They’re definitely a good offense, and it’ll be a good challenge for us because it is back to normal, similar to what you practiced in training camp.”

In the backfield, Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees presents a new challenge to defensive coordinator Matt House’s unit — one entirely different than the one posed by Golson last season.

“I think Rees is playing really, really good right now,” House said. “He’s throwing the ball really well.”

Rees has thrown for 2,186 yards and 22 touchdowns this season and poses more of an aerial threat to the Pitt defense than Golson, who relied on his dual-threat capabilities last season.

In last year’s contest, Golson racked up 301 yards of total offense, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another.

“He can make all the throws,” House said. “You watch him on tape and he’s throwing nine routes to the field. He’s got the arm strength to do it.”

On the perimeter, the efforts of T.J. Jones and DaVaris Daniels complement Rees’ passing ability. Jones leads Notre Dame with 48 receptions for 742 yards and seven touchdowns this season, and each receiver gains an average of 15.5 yards per catch.

“They’ve got good wideouts, [and] they can go up and make a play,” House said. “He certainly takes advantage of it, and I think he’s got great poise in the pocket.”

Overall, Chryst says his team has put last year out of mind and looks forward to another opportunity to play. 

“Our guys are looking forward to this week,” Chryst said. “We’re playing a very good Notre Dame team with a lot of good athletes and football players.”